2013 a big year for the small screen

By Hindustan Times

We saw a lot of great new shows last year, and 2013 seems like it will continue in the same vein. Check out our guide to what’s new on the tube this year:

HINDI SHOWS

24
This is Anil Kapoor’s remake of the popular international show of the same name. He will make
his Indian TV debut by starring in the remake as well. It’s a first to have an Indian remake of a hit international fiction show, and have a popular film star in the lead. Directed by Abhinay Deo, the story is written by Rensil D’Silva.
When: Mid-2013, Colors

MasterChef India
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor takes charge of the third season of the cooking competition as a judge, along with chefs Vikas Khanna and Kunal Kapoor.
When: February, Star Plus

Welcome
A remake of the international format, Come Dine With Me. The cooking-based game show, Welcome — Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki, will see guests like Sanaya Irani, Karanvir Bohra, Aman Verma, Ragini Khanna and Sara Khan, among others. It’s produced by Miditech, and interestingly, hosted by Ram Kapoor.
When: January 19, 10 pm, Life OK

Na Bole Tum Naa Maine Kuch Kaha - Season 2
For the first time on Indian TV, a fictional show will have a season. The story of Megha and Mohan will go through new twists and turns in the second season. Jayashree Venketaramanan will play Megha’s daughter, Nanhi, who grows up to be a journalist.
When: January 14, Colors

Sanskar
Jay Soni returns to TV in a show that will take the viewers on a journey through India as well as abroad, highlighting the importance of family while living in a different country.
When: January 14, Colors

Amita Ka Amit
A slice-of-life story about Amita, who dreams of having a husband akin to filmy heroes, but ends up with a curt and introverted stockbroker. They discover love after marriage in this sweet love story.
When: January 14, 8.30 pm, Sony

Tota Weds Maina
Loaded with dollops of humour, this one’s a love story at its heart. The show has the ability to melt your heart in the same way as it can have you rolling with laughter. Gaurav Gera and Kavita Kaushik will play the lead roles.
When: January 14, 10.30 pm Sab TV

Hum Aapke Hai In-laws
The story of a sweet couple caught in a whirlwind of confusion with both their sets of lovable in-laws. Hum Aapke Hai In-laws promises to be an entertaining family comedy. Karan Grover and Pooja Pihal play the lead couple, Gulshan and Damini Grover.
When: January 14, 10 pm, Sab TV

Nautanki
This one has an innovative format — a bi-weekly show that will present a theatre act with two plays per episode. Nautanki follows the Broadway style of a comedy-play format, bringing an eclectic mix of entertaining gags stories with actors and comedians like Ghuggi, Rashami Desai, Kamya Panjabi and comedian Nikhil Ratnaparkhi alongwith a guest in every episode. Tushar Kapoor has been roped in as a judge.
When: To be announced, Colors

There’s more Mahabharat
Producer Siddharth Kumar Tewary will bring another version of the Mahabharat to the telly. Reportedly, Shaheer Shaikh and Deblina Chatterjee will play Arjun and Draupadi respectively.
When: To be announced, Star Plus

Saajan
Sumeet and Shashi Mittal’s adaptation of Beauty And The Beast will apparently have Soumya Seth and Rohit Khurana starring in a love triangle.
When: To be announced, Sony

Sher Dil Shergil
Producers Deeya and Tony Singh bring Kanwaljit Singh and Supriya Pilgaonkar together for their family-oriented show. It also stars Diwakar Pundir and Ulka Gupta.
When: To be announced, Star Plus

Savitri
Starring Riddhi Dogra, Yash Pandit and Angad Hasija, this Shabbir Ahluwalia-produced show will air on Life OK. It’s the story of a wife searching for her husband, with the help of a cop.
When: To be announced, Life OK

Big Switch Season 4
Gaurav Chopraa will play host and big brother to some rich and spoilt brats; he will pull up the contestants or pat their backs when the need arises.
When: January, Bindass

Emotional Atyachaar Season 4
With some changes in the format of the show, Emotional Atyachaar will return to reveal the shocking truth behind some love stories, but this season, the stories will go beyond cheating.
When: January 26, 7 pm, Bindass

ENGLISH SHOWS

Homeland
An action-adventure drama based on the Israeli Keshet format, Prisoners of War. In this iteration, an American soldier who was presumed killed in Iraq returns, 10 years after he went missing. But after the joy of his homecoming dies down, suspicions arise as to whether he is really an American hero or if he’s part of a sleeper cell planning a terrorist attack.
When: January 16, 11 pm, Star World

Perception
An expert in neurological disorders, eccentric and schizophrenic Dr Daniel Pierce consults on complex FBI cases, dealing with disturbed minds. With an intimate knowledge of human behaviour and a masterful understanding of the mind, this quirky, crime-solving doctor pulls lessons from an odd and imaginative view of the world.
When: January 19, 9 pm, Zee Café

Gossip Girl Seasons 4, 5, 6
The teen drama is back, and once again, the Upper East Side’s notorious and ultra-secretive Gossip Girl is back in town to disclose news about everyone’s lives.
When: February, Zee Café

The Voice, Season 4
The singing competition will return without original coaches Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green, who are both sitting out this season to focus on other projects. They will be replaced by two more popular singing sensations — Usher and Shakira.
When: March, AXN

The Middle Season 1 and 2
A middle-aged, middle-class
harried wife and working mother of three uses her wry wit and sense of humour to get her family through each day.
When: January, Zee Café

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 3
This American reality show
follows the lives of five women in and around several upscale communities in northern New Jersey.
When: January 10, 10 pm, Star World

Numb3rs – Seasons 1 to 6
An FBI agent recruits his mathematical-genius brother to help the Bureau solve a wide range of challenging crimes in Los Angeles.
When: January 15, 9 pm, Star World